Rob Richards

13 Posts
FACING THE ISSUES: CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH FORUM

FACING THE ISSUES: CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH FORUM

From the League of Women Voters website: Seven members of the Capital High School Debate Team agreed to write individual oratories on matters important to us here in Thurston County. League members provided the list of topics, and students decided to use one or create their own.  Members of the Capital High School Debate Team Kaloyan Menser: How do we get youth engaged in local government? https://youtu.be/TKn-MQSpvbo Click here to see this whole series and more great, local content on the Thurston Community Media YouTube page!
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A Statement from the Olympia City Council Condemning Anti-Asian Hate

A Statement from the Olympia City Council Condemning Anti-Asian Hate

(March 23, 2021) Our hearts are with the victims and survivors of the recent shooting spree in Georgia, which led to the deaths of Hyun Jung Grant, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, and Daoyou Feng. Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz survived his injuries. These actions are intolerable and reveal to us yet again the presence of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia that persists in our society. We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims. The murders of these eight people in Georgia, six of whom are Asian women, sheds light…
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To all my housed friends enjoying the snow

To all my housed friends enjoying the snow

This is NOT meant to shame you. You shouldn't feel bad for having a warm place to be, with hot food & beverages, heat & blankets. Nor should you feel ashamed that snow is fun and you love playing in it. I don't want you to feel bad - I desperately want you to want what you have for every person. I want you to keep in your mind and in your heart those for whom snow is deadly.  Our local response, once again, is entirely inadequate.  Earlier this week, before the first flakes fell, there was - once again…
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WA House Passes Two Police Accountability Bills

WA House Passes Two Police Accountability Bills

From a media release issued by Washington State House Democrats: OLYMPIA—The Washington House of Representatives yesterday passed two police accountability bills that are part of the package proposed by the House Democrats’ Policing Policy Leadership Team. HB 1088, by Rep. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), toughens state law on police officer impeachment disclosures, creates best practices and online training on that subject, and requires that law enforcement agencies must inquire about past impeachment disclosures before hiring an officer. An impeachment disclosure is an official determination that an officer engaged in misconduct affecting his or her credibility as a witness. Prosecutors are required to…
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February 1st Marks 14 Year Anniversary of Camp Quixote

February 1st Marks 14 Year Anniversary of Camp Quixote

On February 1st, 2007 a group of members of the street community, along with advocates, formed a tent city in Downtown Olympia. We not only changed the course of dozens of lives, but we changed the conversation around homelessness and our community's response to it. In the fall of 2006, I had been on staff at Bread & Roses (B&R) in Olympia for about three years. Founded in the early 80s, B&R was a Catholic Worker house, inspired by Dorothy Day's work with the poor and marginalized in our society.  In Olympia, the organization had grown to encompass the original…
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Yen Huynh is the Newest Member of the Olympia City Council.

Yen Huynh is the Newest Member of the Olympia City Council.

Olympia Planning Commissioner Yen Huynh was chosen last night to fill the seat left vacant by Jessica Bateman who was elected to the WA State Legislature last November. Olympia City Councilwoman Yen Huynh Six council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to name her to the seat after a rigorous four-hour meeting, in which they interviewed all seven finalists and used a new ranked-choice voting system to select the winner. On her application, Huynh listed her top priorities as: Public health and safety, citing “concerns raised about police accountability; the wellbeing of our houseless community; and the current COVID-19 pandemic with…
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Biden/Harris Win! The Nation Rejoices

Biden/Harris Win! The Nation Rejoices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2l3QoYQow The scene at Black Lives Matter Square in Washington, DC as thousands took to the streets in celebration of Joe Biden and Kamal Harris winning the White House. We all feel a little lighter today. It felt like the longest week of a very long year, during a presidential administration that has been tedious and challenging at its best and life-threatening at its worst. The wait is over as this morning the race in Pennsylvania, follow by Nevada, were called for Vice-President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris. Harris will be the first woman, and woman of color, to…
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‘This Is Definitely Historic’

‘This Is Definitely Historic’

Record-Setting Voter Totals in Thurston County If you're one of the many volunteers who have been working hard on Get-Out-The-Vote efforts this election cycle, you can take a minute to pat yourself on the back. As of this morning (10/25), 199,611 people - 83% of eligible voters - have registered to vote in Thurston County, and that number is expected to top 200k on Monday. Nearly half of them have voted already. "We are at almost 50% nine days prior to the election," said Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall. "This is unprecedented. Plus we have 25,000 more voters than we…
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Olympia YWCA Announces 2020 Womxn Of Achievement Honorees

Olympia YWCA Announces 2020 Womxn Of Achievement Honorees

In a release emailed out this morning, the Olympia YWCA announced this year's Womxn of Achievement Honorees to be highlighted at their virtual event on November 6, 2020. The event will feature special guest Patrice Cullors. According to their website, "Artist, activist, educator, public speaker, and Los Angeles-native Patrisse Cullors is the Co-Founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and Founder of the Los Angeles-based grassroots organization Dignity and Power Now." The honorees include: Community organizer Talauna Reed, known for her work with Justice for Yvonne, Olympia Showing Up for Racial Justice, and Black Leaders in Solidarity and Action…
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But Did You Vote Though?

But Did You Vote Though?

If you only spend five minutes online per day, you're probably seeing at least one article, ad, or social media post telling you to get out and vote. That's because it's REALLY important that you do. There are very important races up and down the ballot - I'm not exaggerating when I say that this election will define how our county government responds to the housing and environmental crises, how we educate our children across the state, and the direction of our federal government for the next generation. Did you get your ballot? If you live in Thurston County, it…
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